Waterbirth Benefits

There are so many fantastic benefits of being in a warm tub of water while in labor and/or delivery. The following list of benefits are to provide you with an understanding of the possiblitites that waterbirthing can provide (although we can't guarantee that you will experience all of them):

• Ease of movement and mobility. This can help the baby's descent into and through the birth canal
• Buoyancy helps reduce pressure on the abdomen and increase the effectiveness of contractions.
• Water helps most mother's relax so they are not wasting energy inbetween contractions
• Deeper relaxation allows mother's hormones to work more effectively for a shorter labor
• Laboring in water has been shown to reduce the need for epidurals or other pain-relief drugs
• Using water imersion as a method of pain-relief is generally considered safer than an epidural
• Having a drug-free natural childbirth is an empowering experience for women and can enhance your confidence as a mother.
• Being in water can help lower your blood pressure while in labor
• The humidity from the pool can help make breathing easier, especially for women with asthma
• Mothers who deliver in water have a decreased chance of injury to their vagina, perineum, and vulva.
• Being in the water helps make better use of gravity by allowing the baby to descend in a downward direction
• Better mother-child bonding. When the mother has a empowering birth experience she is more likely to have positive associations and emotions towards her baby. A baby who has experienced a drug-free, gentle, and non-traumatic birth experience will also be better able to bond to his/her mother.

I sincerely believe that giving birth is a rite of passage for every woman as she makes the journey to motherhood. I also hope that each woman can feel free to choose the most benefical birth method for her and her family.